Chapter 1 — Dawn After the Crack

“From tomorrow, we apply AA mode.”
Tran Canh Sam used his chopsticks to gently tap the edge of the bowl, the harsh sound breaking the quiet atmosphere in the dining room. Lam Niem So, after seven months, the movement of picking up food stopped in mid-air. She looked up and looked at her husband of three years. Tran's mother leisurely put a piece of braised pork into her son's bowl, while Tran's father bowed his head and quietly ate. Lam Niem So's voice rang out, sounding as if she herself felt strange:
“What do you mean by splitting the cost…?”
"That means everything in the house, from apartment installments, management fees, electricity, water, gas, to food and daily living expenses, are all divided in half."
Tran Canh Sam said it very naturally, as if it were something obvious.
"I haven't worked in the past few months, so I should take out and share my previous savings."
Lam Niem So felt her stomach shrink. She put down her chopsticks and unconsciously rubbed her growing belly. The baby in her belly kicked gently.
“I've been a ghost for seven months.” she said.
"Pregnancy is not an illness, and it's not like I'm forcing you to get pregnant."
Tran Canh Sam still did not bother to raise his head and continued eating.
"Besides, the baby belongs to two people, so why would you make me bear it all alone?"
Lam Niem So turned to look at her parents-in-law. Tran's mother bowed her head to drink soup. Father Tran quietly picked up a grain of rice that fell on the table and put it into his mouth. No one spoke up. Not even a word. Lam Niem So suddenly burst out laughing. Three years into her marriage, she quit her job at the design institute
followed Tran Canh Sam to this city. Before marrying anyone, she worked as a designer for a small company, her salary was not high, but every month she spent everything on household expenses. As for Tran Canh Sam's salary, she never asked. Now he wants to split it in half.
"Okay."
Lam Niem So picked up the bowl and ate the remaining rice.
"If it's divided in half, then starting from tonight's dinner, I'll pay you back whatever you eat."
She stood up.
“Where are you going?” Tran Canh Sam asked.
“Go back to your room… settle the accounts.”
She turned and walked into the bedroom, closing the door. Leaning her back against the door, she reached out to touch the old silver pendant around her neck. That was the only souvenir she brought with her from the orphanage. On the back is a faint engraving of the word "Lam". From childhood to adulthood, she did not know who her biological parents were. After being adopted, her adoptive parents did not give her much warmth. She once thought that by marrying Tran Canh Sam, she would finally have a family. The phone suddenly vibrated. Message from close friend Tong Dao:
“Nien So, today I took a picture of your husband having coffee with Phuong Di Nhien at Starbucks, do you want to see it?”
Lam Niem So opened the photo. In the picture, Tran Canh Sam is sitting opposite a young girl in the corner of the shop. Between the two of them are two cups of coffee. His hand rested on the back of her hand. In the next photo, the two of them walked out of the shop together. Tran Canh Sam's hand was around that woman's waist. Lam Niem So turned off the phone screen. The baby in her belly kicked again gently. She didn't cry. She opened the banking app and looked
Balance: 32,400 yuan, about more than 110 million VND. That was all her savings. She logged out and opened the email she used to send entries. Three months ago, she used an anonymous account to submit a set of jewelry design sketches to participate in the "Cam Lan Boi" contest, but until now there has been no response. She turned off the phone and lay down on the bed. On the ceiling there was a crack extending from the corner of the wall to the base of the lamp. She stared at that crack, quietly thinking, tomorrow, she will go to the doctor
pregnant alone. At six o'clock the next morning, when Lam Niem So sat up, the blanket next to Tran Canh Sam had long been cold. She glanced at her phone, there was a WeChat message sent at one o'clock in the morning:
“Overtime, no return.”
She did not answer. After finishing personal hygiene, she took the medical examination book from the closet, put it in her bag and went out. The bus was crowded, no one gave up their seat. She held onto the handrail and stood for forty minutes before arriving at the City Obstetrics Hospital. Get a number, line up, get blood drawn, get an ultrasound. In the ultrasound room, the doctor was light
Gently move the probe over her abdomen. On the screen appeared the small shape of a fetus.
“Oh my gosh, good development.” The doctor said, “Where are the family?”
“Don't come with me.”
The doctor looked at her one more time, but didn't ask any more questions. Lam Niem So took the results and walked out. The hallway was filled with pregnant women, everyone with family nearby. It's just her, alone. She stood in a corner and opened the results sheet to see. The phone suddenly rang. It's a strange number.
“Excuse me, are you Ms. Lam Niem So?”
“Yes, it's me.”
"I'm calling from the organizers of the Cam Lan Boi design contest. Your work from the 'Rang Dong' collection has reached the final round. I hope you come to the Cam Lan Group headquarters before Friday this week to receive the notice and participate in the live presentation."
Her hand holding the phone tightened.
“May I ask… how many finalists are there?”
“There were 1,700 entries nationwide, with only eight selected.”
She hung up. Standing in the middle of the hospital hallway, surrounded by the sounds of children crying and relatives talking and laughing. She bent down to look at her round belly. She… made it to the finals. She called Tong Dao.
“Dao Dao, are you free?”
“Yes, say it.”
"I want to ask you to investigate someone. Phuong Di Nhien, works in the same company as Canh Sam."
The other end of the line was silent for two seconds.
“Have you seen the pictures?”
“Nien So, what are you planning to do?”
"Just investigate. Get the results and then move on."
"Okay. Anything else?"
Lam Niem So tightened her grip on the autopsy results in her hand, the corners of the paper were wrinkled.
“I made it to the finals of Cam Lan Boi.”
The other party paused for a moment, then Tong Dao's voice burst out excitedly:
"What? Already in the finals? Lam Niem So, you're amazing! That's the best competition in the jewelry design world!"
“Yes. I have to give a presentation this Friday.”
"Go now. You must go. Don't worry about money, I'll make up for what's missing."
Hanging up, Lam Niem So took the bus home. Upon arriving, Tran's mother was sitting in the living room watching TV.
“How's everyone doing?”
“Everything is good.”
"Don't mind the matter of dividing costs," Canh Sam said.
Tran's mother said as she changed the channel.
“It's been under a lot of pressure lately, the company isn't doing well.”
Lam Niem So looked at her.
“Mom, what time did Canh Sam come home last night?”
Tran's mother's eyes were slightly avoided.
“Mom went to bed early and didn't pay attention.”
“He didn't come home.”
“Young people, they interact a lot.”
Lam Niem So did not say anything more and returned to the bedroom. She opened the cupboard and pulled out an old tin box from deep inside. Inside was the silver pendant she brought from the orphanage, along with a yellowed piece of paper. On it was written the date she was brought to the camp, and an inscription:
“Wait until I come pick you up.”
But no one ever came. She put the box back, opened the computer, and began editing the design for the final round. At eight o'clock in the evening, Tran Canh Sam returned. He stood in the living room and called:
"Niem So, has your portion of the mortgage payment this month been transferred?"
She walked out.
"I went to see someone today, it cost six hundred yuan."
“Determining who/who is is my private business.”
His voice was calm.
"The mortgage payment is one thousand two, I'll transfer six thousand."
“Do you want to see my account balance?”
"No need."
Tran Canh Sam crossed his legs, eyes still glued to the phone.
"Before, when I worked, I saved quite a bit. It's fair."
Lam Niem So stood in front of him, looking down.
"Okay. I'll move."
She returned to her room and transferred six thousand yuan. Remaining balance: 26,400 yuan. She looked at that number. There was only one thought left in my heart. That's... enough.